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JUNE 22, 2012
THE COAST NEWS
Dinner dance set for local businessman Reunion sustains By Lillian Cox
SOLANA BEACH — A dinner dance to benefit local businessman David Gordon will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. July 1 at 645 Solana Circle in Solana Beach. Money generated from the event will be used for medical bills and to replace inventory that was lost following a near-fatal crash outside of the Mexican village of Mata Ortiz in March. Gordon was visiting the town to purchase pottery, which he sells through his Solana Beach business. The fundraiser is being organized by friends Lezlie Haines and Dr. Ed Balian. An author, entrepreneur and educator, Balian will assume his alter ego, DJ Detroit Eddie, spinning hundreds of vinyl 45 rpm hit records from his collection that begins in 1955. Balian has a personal
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A dinner dance to benefit local businessman David Gordon (old photo) will be held on July 1, from 3 to 8 p.m. in Solana Beach. Gordon was in a near-fatal crash outside the village of Mata Ortiz in March. He was on a trip to purchase pottery, which he sells through his Solana Beach business. Courtesy photo
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connection to Gordon that goes back 10 years when they met over coffee at the Java Depot in Solana Beach. “David is truly a remarkable person and a true asset to Solana Beach and the North County coast.” Balian said. “He has a keen eye for art and is one of the hardest working people I know. His great relationship with the peoples in the Mexican villages in which he works speaks volumes about his humanity. I am proud to call him a friend.” According to longtime friend Eileen English, Gordon sustained several broken vertebrae as well as damage to the left side of his brain and other injuries. Initially, he was transferred to a hospital in Chihuahua City where he was put into a drug-induced coma. He was subsequently transferred to Scripps Memorial Hospital. English reported that Gordon has undergone several surgeries that include having a metal halo inserted into his head to support the vertebrae. He is able to open his eyes, and has regained limited use of his hands. Gordon, however, is unable to speak because of a tracheal tube. He’s currently at a rehabilitation facility in San Diego. Like Balian, English has been a friend of Gordon and his wife and Tara for several
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years. “They are amazing people,” she said. “They are incredibly talented and it is such a gift to have them as friends. “They lost a big chunk of pottery in the car crash. Mata Ortiz pottery is beautiful art and both David and Tara are passionate about the art and the artists, rightfully so.” Tara Gordon continues to travel the west coast, selling pottery to support the family. “Tara is trying to do the business on top of being there for her beloved David, run the household, etc.,” English said. “She told me she is blown away by the love and support of so many friends. She is incredibly thankful for all their efforts.” Balian said the event is a BYOB and pot luck dinner. No RSVP required. Minimum donation is $25 per person with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Gordons. Checks or money orders should be made payable to: "Fund for David Gordon," c/o Dr. Edward S. Balian, 204 N. El Camino Real, #E-427, Encinitas, CA 92024. Donations can be made to Paypal at esbalian@gmail.com. Indicate "Fund for David Gordon" in Paypal description line. Donations for a silent auction are also being sought. To contribute, or for more information, call Ed Balian at (760) 809-9778. So far, Balian reports, the community response has been positive. “Looks like a big affair,” he said. “Bring your dancing shoes!” For more about the Gordons and their business, visit mataortizpots.com. To contact Balian, visit edwardbalian.com.
lasting friendships By Promise Yee
OCEANSIDE — The annual reunion for Oceanside High School, formerly Oceanside Carlsbad Union High School, took place at Heritage Park on June 17. More than 200 alumni and friends showed up from the class of 1936 to the class of 1968. “We enjoyed our high school years,” George Buddy Watson, alumnus from the class of 1947, said. “We had a good time in school.” Class groups set up shade areas marked by signs displaying their class year to gather and share photos and stories. Watson said the reunions are all about seeing old friends. “You can’t tell lies to people who know you that well,” Watson said. Watson attended the reunion with his wife Barbara, who is a graduate from the class of 1948. He moved to Oceanside at age 6 and continues to meet up regularly with three friends he attended school with from first grade. “They are friends I’ve known my whole life,” Watson said. “We all went through school together.” Mickey Hillan Stolzoff and Durrell Conner, both of the class of 1936, also meet up regularly with school friends. “Seven of us meet up the second Thursday of each month,” Conner said. Hillan Stolzoff said the get-togethers are a lot different than when they celebrated early milestones, like the class’ 20-year reunion. Now it’s about enjoying long-lasting friendships. “We don’t care what they did, or how much money they made, we love them as friends,” she said. Watson credits alumna Edith Swain, estimated class of 1938, for starting the reunions more than 30 years ago. “She knows about all the families in town,” Watson said. “She organized it very well. We owe her a lot. She started this whole thing.” Most alumni who attend live within 70 miles of Oceanside, but some travel from as far away as Oregon to attend. This year the class of 1947 and friends also met for a dinner to celebrate their 65- year reunion.
Class of 1936 alumni, Mickey Hillan Stolzoff and Durrell Conner. Photo by Promise Yee
Watson said recent graduate classes are not that interested in attending the reunion, at least not yet. “In my class there were 100 students,” Watson said. “You knew almost everyone in class. Now classes have a couple of thousand. It’s a lot different memories and how well you know one another.” Oceanside Carlsbad Union High School once served students who lived from Del Mar to Oceanside. Then the cities of Encinitas, Carlsbad and Del Mar built their own high schools. Oceanside later built its second high school, El Camino High School. The Oceanside High School Foundation and Alumni Association works with the Oceanside Historical Society and Friends of Heritage Park to collect and preserve the school’s memorabilia. Much of the memorabilia is displayed in a hallway at the school. At the reunion Laurie Nelson Boone, class of 1968 and member of the alumni association, collected a 1938 all school photo from Ray Perkett, class of 1939. Perkett pointed out that he is in the photo twice. Photographers needed to take several side by shots of the large group and then develop the negatives as one image. Perkett said while photographers were readying equipment for the next shot, he and his friends ran to the other end of the group and got in the photo twice.
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